Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-11-16
LEADING NEWS TOPICS
THE STRANGE POSITION OF THE STATE
TREASURER.

III -lbpOl HdIcHou5o lOf inc Ctdle IElnLlnS
Office is wholly indefensible 1t is not
only an awkward position. but it is in the
direction of corruption, however the
Treasurer may look upon it, for it is an at
tempt TO eoerce another State official to do
something that his Judgment disapproves.
1t is brazen offer by one officer to trade his
vote with another State official in matter
in which each, to be honest and self
respecting, must act independently.
This is the case: The Legislature pro-
vided foT the erection Of a fire-proof build
ing, to cost not in excess of $4,000, for
the storage Of the plates, stock and fin
ished work of the State school books. This
was wise action, and 20 conceded by every
one, for if the books, plates and electro
types were to suffer destruction by fire
they could not be duplicated for year or
two, and only then at immense cost, and in
the meantime the book rings would have
the State at their mercy. In fact, the in
terest of the elected textbook syndicate
would be favored by fire in the printing
Office, and advanced by the action of the
Treasurer.
The scheme of State textbooks should
not be exposed to such risks, or put at the
mercy of such stubbornnes. The general
law requires that all plans and specifoa-
tons for improvement in, or addition to
any State institution, must be approved by
three persons, and Mr.. Herold is unfortu-
nately, by virtue Of his office, one.
The plans having been, drawn and specifi-
cations settled, the Superintendent of State
Printing submitted them for approval, and
Mr.. Herold refuses to give it.
If the refusal were based upon objections
to the plans and specifications, or upon al
legged noncompliance with the law on the
part Of the Superintendent, it would have
some backing, and the Treasurer might be
able to justify it by pointing out the changes
necessary, and requiring them to be made.
But Mr.. Herold raises no such objections.
The plans he does not find to be at fault.
and he suggests no changes in them. On
the contrary, his sole and only ground for
non-approval, he is careful to state, is that
the Governor has taken exception to the
lute mills extension plans at San Quentin.
When" says the Treasurer, "the Gov
ernor approves them, l will approve the
warehouse plans"
So, then, the Treasurer of the State,
with amazing efrontery, proposes to de-
feat the will of the Legislature and put at
great hazard the school book system of the
State, because the Goyernsr refuses to
dicker and trade votes with him. This is
nothing short of dishonorabie conduct, to
put it no stronger, and it is impossible for
Mr. Herold to justify il. His duty is to
see that the economic decree and command
OF the people, as expressed through their
representatives, is made effective. 1t
ought to make no difference to him what
ever, whether another official, in his iudg-
ment, acts unwisely in another matter.
The warehouse proposition must stand
upon its own legs, and has no relation
whatever TO any other issue. 1t was not
given to Mr.. Herold to say that it should
not be carried out That is matter be-
yond his province. He is by his duty
bound only to see that the plans and speci-
fications conform TO the law, and that the
State is not defrauded by their adoption.
When he steps beyond that, and attempts
to dictate to another officer what he shall
do in foreign matter, and makes his own
action concerning the warehouse erection
dependent upon acquiesccnce by that other
official in his views, he simply proposes to
trade of his Judgment, to sell his vote, as
one of the Board of Approval. He pro-
poses to bulldoze and COW a member of the
Board and names the price of his with
drawal Of menace and threat.
If the State Treasurer can make this ac-
ton square with conscientious discharge
of his duty under his oath to uphold the
laws and conserve their execution, he will
accomplish that which any other man in a
like position would be unable to do and re-
tain his self-respect. II he can face his
fellow-citizens with the proposition that
the affairs of the State are 20 be admins
tered, so far rs he is concerned, by ex-
change of favors and trade of prerogatives,
he is possessed of more hardihood than is
met with in other men.
Boss Tweed and boodler Sharp went but
step beyond. Indeed, the line of dis
tinction between trading official votes and
buying and selling them is very narrow,
and all but invisible Mr. Herold will
have to face the task of answering to the
next Legislature, and to the people, why a
heavy bill of cost is run up to secure safe
storage for State property when the State
provided means to make the Superintend-
7ent of Printing warehouseman for the
State.
1t is openly stated that Mr. Herold in
this matter is acting under advice OF the
Democratic State Central Committee. The
purpose OF that body is, then. to cripple
The Administration Ivy defeating its
economic plans. To accomplish that it
proposes to put in jeopardy valuable State
property through the agency of Mr.. Her
old. II is amazing that even the political
machine can descend TO such low schemes.
If 1t is true, as stated, the Democratic
Committee merits and must meet the re-
buke of the people equally with the Treas
urer, and share his ignominy in attempt
ing to defeat the plain and undeuiable will
of the State, expressed by the Legislature
THE PRESIDENT IEDcRsES DOODLE
POLITICS.
President Cleveland wrote letter to an
official in New York city during the recent
campaign, in which he said: 81 know